We are extremely excited to bring you this unique and much needed book about the integration of pain, yoga and science. There is a big shift towards using and accepting yoga as a therapeutic intervention in pain care. With the high prevalence and global burden of chronic pain worldwide, the opioid issues and the lack of comprehensive resources available that provide health practitioners with other options, this book fills a gap of knowledge that offers non-pharmacological, non-invasive clinical treatment options. Read more →

The Montreal International Symposium on Therapeutic Yoga (MISTY) is a weekend Symposium offering specialized sessions by international based presenters with a medical background who integrate yoga therapeutics in their practice. They come to share Quality Education, Research, Facts, Tools, Experience, Evidence based Yoga.

Presentations format are open and welcoming for interactive discussion, creating a exchange of learning for all!

FOR WHO ~ Anyone interested in discovering the science behind Yoga

~Sessions are accessible for all curious minds

Shelly Prosko, PT, C-IAYT, PYT, CPI is one of the MISTY 2019 presenters. She will be offering two sessions:

Pelvic Floor Focus: Create Health for the person through PhysioYoga

Our pelvic floor plays a role in many aspects of our existence that contribute to a healthy life, including breathing, bowel and bladder function, sexual function, hip function, core timing, and more. For both men and women, pelvic health issues such as pelvic pain, incontinence, constipation, pelvic organ prolapse, and sexual dysfunctions are often poorly addressed or left untreated. Shelly created PhysioYoga from her extensive training and experience, resulting in a valuable, unique and evidence-based approach that provides a variety of options to maximize pelvic floor health and overall wellness. Join Shelly Prosko, physiotherapist and yoga therapist for this inspiring, educational, empowering and fun two-part workshop that includes theory and practice.

Session 1:

We will explore evidence surrounding the biopsychosocial factors that influence pelvic floor (PF) function and combine it with yoga practices/philosophy and physiotherapy exercises that can be used to address and maintain optimal PF health. The focus of the experiential part will be on practices that address the awareness, visualization and relaxation of the PF.

We will focus on practices that facilitate PF engagement in coordination with breath, visualization and movement. An evidence-informed discussion surrounding the debate of the what, when, who and why of mula bandha and kegels will be included. A case study will be included if time permits.

**This workshop is not intended to assess or treat or act as medical advice. Please ensure you feel safe to practice in a group class without individual assessment or attention. Please seek guidance and treatment from your health professional in your area for any unmanaged conditions.**

The 2019 San Diego Pain Summit (SDPS) continues to provide relevant clinical education and current pain research delivered by expert clinicians and research scientists surrounding the topic of pain.

Shelly Prosko, PT, C-IAYT, PYT, CPI will be one of the speakers, presenting on:

A Case for Compassion in Pain Care: using an integrative yoga approach to enhance compassionate care to better serve the person in pain and the healthcare professional

Numerous national health surveys and reports conclude that compassion is lacking in healthcare and many would even argue there is a growing compassion deficit in some parts of the world. As healthcare providers, it is assumed we will provide compassionate care to those we serve, as it is inherently part of our job. However, research shows that the capacity to provide compassionate care can vary and depend on a wide variety of factors. There may be challenges we face that may influence and even inhibit our ability to offer compassion to people in pain.

In this session, I will provide a working definition of compassion, differentiate between empathy and compassion, discuss the debate surrounding the ‘myth of compassion fatigue’, summarize the research surrounding the benefits of providing and receiving compassion (including self-compassion) for those living with persistent pain and also for the healthcare providers, and describe accessible and practical ways that yoga can be used to train and cultivate more compassionate (and self-compassionate) responses. The five tenets of Compassionate Pain Care (CPC) will be introduced.

Join Shelly for this 1 day informative workshop on the science surrounding pain and yoga to help people living with persistent (chronic) pain be empowered to move with more ease, reduce and manage pain effectively and safely, and thrive again.

**This workshop is appropriate for:

Yoga teachers, yoga therapists, health care providers, people in pain or people interested in helping others to reduce and manage pain.

Also suitable for those who have taken workshops with Shelly before on this topic; as there are new practices and information to be shared!

During this workshop you will learn:

-How a combination of Yoga and current pain science can safely and effectively be used to and manage pain

-How to move with more ease and progress towards an improved and thriving quality of life

-Changes that result in the brain and nervous systems when pain persists

-Self-empowered, biopschyosocial and evidence based approach to pain management

-Self management techniques to reduce pain & support moving with more ease

This session will address the science surrounding pain and changes that result in the brain and nervous systems when pain persists. We will learn how a combination of pain science along with a variety of yoga practices and philosophy, can be safely and effectively used to help people in pain move with more ease, reduce and manage our own pain, and progress towards an improved and thriving quality of life. We will use a self-empowered, biopsychosocial and evidence-based approach to pain care.

This workshop includes a combination of theory and experiential components, including awareness practices, movement, breathing methods, meditation and yoga philosophy integrating Life is Now Pain Care Yoga principles and guidelines. Valuable resources will be shared.

**This workshop is not intended to assess or treat or act as medical advice. Please seek guidance and treatment from your health professional in your area for any unmanaged conditions.**